Handelman



March 27, 1962 H. HANDELMAN COUNTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 27, 1957INVENTOR. Henry Handelmm BY March 27, 1962 H. HANDELMAN COUNTER 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 27, 1957 62 T 5,4 577 Man mg a ATTORNEYSUnited States Patent 3,027,073 COUNTER Henry Handelman, 431 MountainView Terrace, Dunellen, NJ. Filed Aug. 27, 1957, Ser. No. 680,491

3 Claims. (Cl. 235-83) This invention relates to counters, and moreparticularly to counters of the general class in which a disk or disksis or are rotatable for bringing difierent indicia values or markingsinto registration with a reference point, for example a viewing openingor window in a cover, for exhibiting a running count as it progresses.The invention is especially suited for assisting in keeping a runningcount of the caloric value of food consumed, say in a day.

Many persons restricted. by a doctors prescription as to diet,particularly with'respect to the safe or allowable caloric value of foodconsumed, have difiiculty, sometimes more or less conveniently, inremembering the caloric value of food consumed from time to time duringa day. Heretofore, there have been proposed several so called caloriecounters comprising in general some kind of means for counting orevaluating the caloric values of foods. A general object of the presentinvention is to provide a counter of the general character referred towhich is of improved and simplified construction and scale or indiciamarkings, which is easy to use,

and which is unusually elfective in keeping the user informed as to foodconsumed and the approach to or attainment of the limit allowed for theparticular user.

Another object of the invention is to provide a counter of the kindreferred to including a scale or scales of calorie values readable inconnection with a reference point or points for indicating the caloricvalue of food consumed, and remaining to be consumed within theprescribed limit, and additionally means for supplementing the scaleindication or indications by displaying differently appearing emphasissignals, -e.g. green before the caloric value limit is approached,yellow as this limit is being approached, and red when the limit hasbeen reached.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription, the appended claims, and ,the accompanying drawings, inwhich: i

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of counter embodying theinvention, a folded base cover or top part being partially open to showinterior parts;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the construction shown in FIGURE 1, withthe cover closed;

FIGURE 3 is an interior plan view of the base back and parts mountedthereon, a portion of the cover being shown in opened or unfoldedposition, disk parts mounted on the base back being shown in thepositions at which they are set before counting is begun;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but showing the disk parts in thepositions occupied after counting to a predetermined stop or limit;

FIGURE 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2, drawn on an enlargedscale;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of a modified construction with the base topor cover closed; 7

FIGURE 7 is an interior plan view of the construction shown in FIGURE 6,showing the interior disk parts and showing a portion of the base coverunfolded or opened; and

FIGURE 8 is a section on the line 8--8 of FIGURE 6, drawn on an enlargedscale.

' The counter construction shown in FIGURES 1-5 includes a base member 1which may be formed of card- ,board, plastic, or similar light sheetmaterial, foldedor ice hinged at 2 to provide a base back portion 3 anda base cover or top portion 4, the arrangement being such that the topor cover 4 may be closed upon the back 3 as shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 5,or may be opened about the hinge 2 as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4.

A pintle constituted, for example, by a grommet 5 secured to the baseback 3 mounts two disks 6 and 7 for concentric rotation on the base. Arubber or the like friction material washer 8 is interposed between thedisks 6 and '7 and is held in frictional engagement with each of thedisks by the grommet or pintle 5 and a retaining washer 9 surmountingthe disk 7, the arrangement being such that the washer 8 frictionallycouples the disks 6 and 7 for conjoint rotation but permitsfriction-overcoming relative rotation of the disks when one is heldstationary and the other is turned.

The larger disk 6 is provided with arcuately extending scale 10 ofindicia values ascending clockwise from a starting reference, as shown0, over 240 of the disk circumference, the indicia being in incrementsof from 0 to 2400. The scale is particularly selected for indicatingvarying numbers of food calories.

The base cover 4 is provided with a registration point which, in theform shown, is constituted by a window or viewing opening 11 positionedto overlie the scale 10. Accordingly, when the disk 6 is first set sothat the value 0 registers with the window 11, and when thereafter thedisk is rotated counterclockwise an amount corresponding to the numberof calories consumed from time to time during the day, the totalcalories consumed will be indicated by registration of the total caloricvalue with the window 11. Rotation of the disk 6 is facilitated byforming the base back 3 and cover 4 with notches 12 leaving an edge ofthe disk easily engageable by a finger.

In accordance with the invention, a signal or emphasizing indication isdisplayed when the total number of calories consumed has reached apredetermined stop consumption value and the disk 6 has been positionedaccordingly by successive incremental rotations. By the displaying ofsuch a signal or emphasis indication, a person who might be inclined tomiss seeing the approach of the calorie stop consumption index on thescale 10 will be abruptly reminded that the limit has been reached andwill have no plausible excuse for exceeding the limit. In theconstruction shown in FIGURES l-S, the signalling or emphasis indicatingmeans comprises a circle of differently appearing band areas on the disk7. Preferably, there are provided a green area 13 of 200circurnferential extent, a yellow area 14 of 40 circumferential extent,and a red area 15 of circumferential extent,

these colored areas being viewable in connection with a registrationpoint on the cover 4, preferably an opening 'or window 16.

"keeping track of calories consumed throughout the day and for insuringthat the emphasis signal will be effective when the limit has beenreached, the indicia disk 6 may first be positioned to cause thestarting reference 0 to show through the indicia disk window 11. Thecover 4 is then raised or opened only enough to provide access to thesignalling disk 7 which is then turned against the frictional resistanceoffered by the rubber washer 8 until the clockwise-most end of the redarea 15 is a little to the left of the signal window 16, as indicated inFIGURE 3.

This setting of the signalling disk 7 is effected while the indicia disk6 is held stationary with its indicia value 0 registering with thewindow 11. The parts having been relatively positioned, the counter willbe prepared for operation. Eachtime a known amount of calories has beenconsumed, the indicia disk 6 is turned counterclockwise a correspondingamount. For example, if during the first meal 400' calories areconsumed, the disk 6 will be turned counterclockwise until the indiciavalue 7400 appears at the window 11. When another 300 calorieshas beenconsumed, the disk 6 is turned counterclockwise 300 more units until thevalue 700 registers with the window 11, and so on. Thus, the user willbe kept informed as to the total calories consumed during the day, andby subtracting the value appearing at the window at any time from thestop value such as 2200, may know how much latitude remains for the y-While the indicia disk 6 is being turned counterclockwise, the signaldisk 7 will be turned counterclockwise to the same extent by thefrictional connection afforded by the washer 8. Because of the disks 6and 7 having been relatively positioned or set as previously explained,the yellow area 14 will move in under the signal window 16 just beforethe 2200 calorie stop limit has been reached. Porexample, the yellowarea will move into registration with the window 16 when about 1800calories have been consumed, thus signalling or warning the user thatabout 400 calories will have to do for the remainder of the day. As theremaining 400*or so more calories are thereafter consumed and the disks6 and 7 are turned accordingly, the yellow area 14-will remainregistered with the window 16 so as to afford continuing warning to slowdown. Just after the calories consumed and the turning of the disksbrings the stop value 2200 calories into view through the window 11, thered hand area 15 moves into registration with the signalling window 16,sharply informing the user that the total allowable calories have beenconsumed.

The procedure for pre-setting the disks 6 and 7 described above isapplicable specifically only when conditioning the counter withreference to a calorie allowance of 2200. This procedure'rnay, however,be used as a reference basis for determining other settings fordilferent calorie allowances. Suppose, for example, that the counter isto be set for an allowance of 1500 calories. Firstly, it is to berecalled that in the 2200 calorie setting explained above, the disk 6was set with the at the window 11, and the disk 7 was set relatively tothe disk 6 so that the clockwise most edge of the red signal area 15 wasjust above'the window 16. It is noted that when the disk 7 was'set inthis position, the clockwise most edge of the red area 15 was at 1050 onthe scale 10 of the disk 6. This may be used as a reference basis fordetermining other settings of the disk 7, according to the calorieallowance. Secondly, for conditioning the counter for an allowance of1500 calories, -it is known that the allowance will be 2200-1500:700less than the 2200 reference-setting described above. Hence, the 0 onthe disk 6 again being initially at the window 11, by setting the disk 7counterclockwise 700 units from its basic reference setting '(1050), theclockwise most edge of the red area 15 will register with 350 on thescale 10. With the disk 7 so set relatively to the disk 6, conjointcounterclockwise rotation of the two disks will bring the red area 15into registration with'the window 16 just as the calorie allotmentdesignation 1500 is brought into registration with the window 11.

Consider a further example, in which the calorie allowanc'e is to be900. It is readily determined that the disk 7 'must be set further in acounterclockwise direction with respect 'to the disk 6, specifically2200-900:

1300 than in the basic reference setting described above.

This means that the disk 7 will be'turned counterclockwise through 1300units from the basic reference of registration of the clockwise mostedge of the red area 15 with the scale value 1050. This may beaccomplished, with the 0 on the disk 6 at the window 11, by turn- 250units on the scale. Thus, when the disk 7'has been turned through 1050units on the disk 6 scale, the

clockwise most edge of the red area'15 will be at 0,

and the clockwise most edge of the green area 13 will be atapproximately 2000. When the disk 7 is turned through the requiredadditional 250 units, the clockwise most edge of the green area 13 willbe at 1750. With the disks 7 and 6 so relatively positioned, concurrentrotation of the disks bringing the scale value 900 into registrationwith the window 11 will simultaneously bring the red area 15 intoregistration with the window 16.

An even simpler method may be used for setting the disk 7 relatively tothe disk '6 so as to cause the red area 15 to show at the window 16 whenthe prescribed calorie allowance registers with the window 11. Againsuppose the allowance to. be 900. The disk 6 is first set with thevalue900 registering with the window 11. While the disk 6 is held in thisposition, the disk 7 is set so that the counterclockwise most edge ofthe red area 15 shows through the window 16. With the disks 6 and '7remaining in these relative positions, they are turned conjointly untilthe '0 on the disk 6 shows through the window 11 in the startingposition. When the two disks are thereafter conjointly turnedcounterclockwise, arrival of the scale figure 900 at the window 11 willbe accompanied by arrival of the red area 15 at the window 16.Obviously, for any selected calorie allowance, the disk 6 may be setinitially with the particular calorie allowance showing at the window11, the disk 7 then set with the counterclockwise most edge of the redarea 15 showing in the window 16, the two disks 6 and. 7 then beingturned conjointly, with their relative positions maintained, until thestarting position is reached with 0 at the windowll.

While the window 13 can serve directly as a starting guide for settingthe disk7 only when the latter is to be set for a calorie allowance of2200, the disk 7 may nevertheless 'be set relatively to the disk 6 forother calorie allowances by following procedures similar'to thosedescribed above with reference to the 1500 and 900 allowances.

Some users may prefer to set the device by trial and "error, which wouldbe nofgr'eat problem, instead of by the more or less analytically basedmethods described above.

The general appeal and interest arousing qualities of the counter may beenhanced and the warning signals rendered more effective by providingthe cover 4 'with a representation'ofatrafiic light 17 of which thewindow 16 may be considered as the usual lens. The particularsignificance of the colors green, yellow and red appearing at the window'16 'in succession will, of course, be well understood by motorists andeven pedestrians in whose daily lives traffic lights play such animportant part.

The modified construction "shown in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 is basically orgenerally similar to that described above with reference to FIGURES 1-5,but includes an additional indicia disk for keeping the user informed bya direct reading as to how many of a prescribed number of caloriesremain for permissible consumption; and also includes a signalling diskmarked somewhat diflerently from the disk 7 so as to cooperate with abase window arrangement including three windows or lights more closelysimulating common forms of traflic light consheet material, folded'at 52to provide a hinge between of the band 65 being of a neutral color.

the base back 53 and cover 54. A grommet or other suitable pintle 55secured to the base back 53 serves rotatably to mount three concentricdisks 56, 56 and 57, a rubber friction washer 58 being interposedbetween the disks 56 and 56, and a rubber friction washer 58 beinginterposed between the disks 56 and 57. A retaining washer 59surmounting the disk 57 cooperates with the pintle 55 for holding theparts in assembly and for maintaining the disks in frictional engagementwith the interposed rubber washers.

The largest disk 56 is provided with an arcuately extending scale 60,similar to the scale shown in FIG- URES 3 and 4, which starts at thereference 0" and ascends clockwise through 240 in units of 100 to anextreme upper limit of 2400. The disk 56 of intermediate diameter. whichis positioned between the disks 56 and 57, is formed with a reversedscale 60 which extends from the reference 0 counterclockwise in units of100 through 240 to an end limit value of 2400. The base cover 54 isprovided with two reference points, as shown openings 61 and 61,positioned over the arcuate indicia scales on the disks 56 and 56respectively. Rotation of the disks 56 and 56 for bringing successivevalues on the indicia scales into registration with their respectivelyassociated openings is facilitated by the provision of notches 62 on thebase back 3 and cover 4.

The signal disk 57 is marked..-with threeconcentric bands, namely a band.63 havinga green band area 63:" of 200 arcuate extent, the remainder ofthe band 63 being of a neutral color; a band 64 having a yellow band'area 64 of 40 arcuate .extent, the remainder of the band 64 being of aneutral color; and a band 65 having a red area 65 of 120 arcuate extent,the remainder The band 63 including the green area63 is innermost, theband 64 including theyellow area 64 is next radially beyond, and

the band 65 including the red area 65 is outermost.

, A representation 67 of a conventional three-light traffic light isdisplayed on the cover 54, and first, second and third windows 66, 66and 66 appearing as or simulating the trafiic light lenses, are locatedso as respectively to overlie the bands 63, 64 and 65.

In using the construction shown in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 with the allowablecalorie consumption the same as before, that is 2200 calories in a day,the indicia disk 56 of ascending values is positioned so that its value0 registers with the opening 61, and the indicia disk 56 of descendingvalues is positioned with its value 2200 displayed at the opening 61 thevalue 2200 on the disk 56 then also registering with the 0 on the disk56. The signalling disk 57 is set so that the counterclockwise-most endof the green area 63 will be just to the left of the traflic lightwindow 66 as shown in FIGURE 7. With the signalling disk so positioned,the areas of neutral color in the bands 64 and 65 will be displayedthrough the associated windows 66 and 66 Having the green light the usermay consume calories and turn the disks 56, 56 and '57 in unison so asto register the total number of calories consumed up to any given timethrough the opening 61, and concomitantly to register directly thepermitted number of calories remaining to be consumed at the opening 61.For example, when the value 400 on the disk 56 is displayed at theopening 61 to indicate that 400 calories have been consumed, the value1800 will be displayed at the opening 61 to provide a direct indicationof how many more calories may be consumed within the permittedallotment. While the three disks are being rotated in unison and beforethe calorie limit has been closely approached, the green area 63 will becontinuously seen through the first window 66, whereas neutral areas ofthe bands 64 and 65 will register with the second and third windows 66and 66' respectively. When the calorie limit is approached ratherclosely, say at about 1800, the green area 63 will move past the window66 and the yellow or warning be displayed through the traflic lightwindow 66', giv-' ing abrupt and final indication that the totalpermissible calories have been consumed.

In order to condition the counter shown in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 forcalorie allowances other than 2200, e.g. allowances of 1500 and 900, thedisks 56 and 57 may be preset relatively to one another, and to theopenings 61 and 61 and to the windows 66, 66 and 66 similarly to thepresetting of the disks 6 and 7 relatively to one another and to thewindows 11 and 16 as described above with reference to FIGURES l to 5.For any presetting of the disks shown in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8, thedescending value disk 56 will be set initially with the calorieallowance thereon registering with the 0 on the disks 56.

Counters embodying the present invention may be so simply andinexpensively constructed of sheet material as to be sold profitably atmoderate prices. They provide continuing and easily read indications ofthe calories consumed to a given time and the calories which maypermissibly be consumed during the rest of the day. The warning and stopsignals operating in simulation of traffic lights not only provide anextra safeguard against overconsumption, but are capable of creating andmaintaining interest in the use of the device with its obvious benefits.

The constructions disclosed embody the invention in preferred forms, butit is intended that the disclosure be illustrative rather thandefinitive, the invention being defined in the claims.

. I claim:

1. In a counter, a base comprising a folded card having a back portionand a front portion freely hinged to said back portion where said cardis folded to be movable adjustment of said disks relatively to eachother, said base back and front portions being of a size completely toencompass said small diameter disk when said base front portion is inclosed position, and both said disks being rendered accessible forrelative rotational adjustment when said base front portion is in openposition, one of said disks being an indicia disk provided witharcuately extending scale indicia values ascending from a startingreference and the other of said disks being a signal disk having threeconcentric band areas, a first of said band areas comprising a portionof neutral color and a green portion, a second of said band areascomprising a portion of neutral color and a yellow portion having oneend adjacent one end of said green portion and extending therefromcircumferentially in the direction of ascension of indicia values onsaid indicia disk, and a third of said band areas comprising a portionof neutral color and a red portion having one end adjacent the other endof said yellow portion and extending therefrom circumferentially in thedirection of ascension of indicia values on said indicia disk, said basefront portion being formed with an opening for viewing successiveindividual indicia during rotation of said indicia disk, and first,second and thrd windows positioned respectively over said signal diskband areas for viewing said band areas during rotation of said signaldisk, said windows being so positioned relatively to each other 7 V andto said disks that, when said indicia disk has been set to display saidstarting reference at said opening and said signal disk has been setrelatively to said indicia disk according to a predetermined indiciadisk stop value, conjoint rotation of said disks will cause ascendingvalue indicia to register successively with said opening while saidgreen hand area portion registers continuously with said first windowuntil the indiciafldisk 9 the 'fold therebetween to be moved selectivelyto closed position substantially parallel to each other and to openposition to uncover said back portion, a pair of concentric disks ofdifferent diameters, a pivot member passing axially through said disksand through said back portion, and a soft friction washer interposedbetween i said disks'and surrounding and contacting said pivotzmemher,said .pivot member having one end overlying the face of said'backportion remote from said front portion and its :other end overlyingthe face of the disk remote from 7 said :backpor'tion, said overlying:endsqho'lding said disks and said back portion .to each other andmaintaininglfrictional engagement between said washer and the adjacentfaces of said disks whereby said disks are conjointly'rotatable orseparately rotatable against :the :friction. of said washer, the smallerof'said disks lyingiover the larger 'of saiddisks at the side thereofremote from :said back portion, one disk being an indicia disk .havingscale indicia values ascending from a starting reference :and the othertlisk being a signaldiskhavingat least two .arcuately extendingdifferently appearing ,band areas, said :front portionbeing formed withwindowsnnerof which is .for

8 viewing successive individual indicia during "rotation of said indiciadisk and the other for viewing said band areas during rotation of saidsignal disk, said windows beingso positioned relative to each other andto said disks that when said indicia disk has been set to display saidstarting reference and said signal disk has been set relative .to saidindicia disk according to ;a-

predetermined indicia disk stop.value, conjoint r011 tion of said diskswill display ascending indicia disk values while one signal disk bandarea continuously registers with its window until the predeterminedindicia disk stop value is displayed, at which time the other of saidsignal disk band areas will be displayed to signal the attainment of the.stop" value position of said indicia disk.

3. A counter accordingto claim 2 wherein {said front and back portions,when in closed position, are of each size as to completely house saidlarger disk, the free edges of said front and back portions beingnotched to expose an edge portion of said larger disk.

References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS-609;619 Jolly Aug. 13, 1898 1,044,184 Janney Nov. 12, 1912 1,119,959Higginbottom 'Dec. 8, 1914 11,156,770 Fritz Oct. .12, "1915 1,312,797Mayer Aug. 12, 1919 1,789,890 Agrell Jan. 20, "1931 2,177,176 GilmoreOct. 24,1939 2,369,717 Compton Feb. 20, 1945 2,386,082 Attridge' Oct; 2,1945 2,427,976 .Posson Sept. .23, .1947 2,517,793 Lancaster Aug. 8, 19502,660,375 Carquillat Nov.,;24, 1953 2,748,514 :Sulger June "5., 11956FOREIGN "PATENTS 271,335 Great Britain May 26 119 27 e -S er;

